28o 



Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



Throughout the washing the heat of the water should be kept up by judicious changes or 

 additions, and it should also be renewed as fast as dirt or soap make it necessary. The cloths 

 should be regularly dried and heated after being wetted, so as to be always ready ; and a towel 

 should be kept for the sole purpose of wiping the wet hands before taking up one of them : it is 

 great loss of drying power to wet the cloths with anything but the wet birds. If a bird gets cold 

 and shivers, it should always be taken in hand and carefully warmed before being placed in the 

 drying-cage. In conclusion, we may remark that one practical lesson from a good practical 

 washer will be more effectual than a cart-load of instructions ; but if it cannot be obtained, it is 

 well to practise on a few common birds before those of value are operated upon. Even a sparrow 

 will answer the purpose. 



As the birds get thoroughly dry, they should be gradually moved rather further off from the 

 fire. When there are many, this is generally into another cage ; and it need hardly be said that 

 every cage into which a washed bird is put should be scrupulously clean. All being washed and 

 cleaned up, it is best to draw a linen cloth over the cage and leave them for the night. In the 

 morning, if time can be allowed, it is a good plan to put a flannel over the bottom of their cage and 



Fig. 66. 



Fig. 67. 



give them a natural bath, which is the surest and best way of getting the feathers quite right and 

 restoring the natural bloom, always rather lost by washing. If, however, there is not time, or the 

 birds will not bathe, the mouth is filled with cold Vfa.ier and "blown" or squirted in a spray through 

 the compressed lips till they are again wringing wet. Perhaps a hollow tooth may raise objections 

 to this process ; if so, a spray-producer or fumigator, which may be purchased at any chemist's for 

 a shilling, will perform the same ofifice. In either case, when the birds are drenched, remove the 

 flannel (put in to absorb the wet), wipe the perches, feed the birds, and leave them again to dry; 

 or they may after the drenching be run into a clean dry cage. We lay great stress on clean 

 cages, since the birds begin operations at once after a cold bath of any kind, and any dust on 

 wires or perches is at once transferred to the head near the beak, and spoils all. The cold bathing 

 or drenching process is called " fining," and is very necessary to showing birds in good bloom. 

 They generally look their best a day or two after wa.shing, and ought to be covered up to keep 

 them from knocking themselves about in the meantime. 



Specimens for exhibition should be in some sense " trained " — that is, used to seeing people in 

 front of their cages, to having those cages lifted and handled, and to be " run " from one cage into 

 another. The last is very important and easily taught, and its use is to save unnecessary catching, 

 which soils the birds, often damages their plumage, and we believe, by the fright it causes, often 



